Field



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1.

G. J. MANDERPIELD. STOP MTION IFR KNITTING MACHINES.

No. 419,763. Patented July 26, 1892.

lllfllmlllx! ma ed IWeagor eoye I (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

G. J. MANDERIIELD. A STOP MOTION EUR KNITTING MACHINES.

No. 479,763. Patented July 26, 1892.

Mer/@for r JM der (6M. mmf..

6e@ LLL ma noms Ps1-sns oo., moro-mno., wAsmNu'nn, o c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE J. IWIANDERFIELD, OF ROYERS FORD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO J. M. LEVIN, SAMUEL LEVIN, IV. S. G. FINKBINER, AND

A. R. SAYLOR.

STOP-MOTION FOR'KNITTING-IVIACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 479,763, dated July 26,1892.

Application led Detober 19, 1891. Serial No. 409,113. (No'model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. MANDER- FIELD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Royers Ford, in the county of Montgomery and Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inStop- Motions for Knitting-Machines; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as [o will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainsto make and use the same.

The invention relates to stop mechanism for knitting and other machines,and has for its object to provide a construction whereby x5 the stoppageof the machine may be effected instantly upon the breaking or runningout l of the yarn or thread or the knotting or kinking of the same.

I-Ieretofore stop-motions for knitting-mazo chines have generally beencomposed of a loose pulley on the driving-shaft, said pulley beingdriven by a Constantly-running drivi-ngbelt, in combination with anadjacent wheel fixed on the shaft and a belt-shifter to slip the beltfrom one pulley to the other,the said belt-shifter being operated bymechanism set in motion by the breaking or knotting of the yarn. It iswell known, however, that this arrangement is objectionable, for thereason,

3o among others, that at least one revolution of the shaft is requiredentirely to shift the belt from the fast to the loose pulley, and it isnecessary therefore to provide for an unusual length of yarn between theneedles and the 3 5 primary shiftenactuating mechanism in order toprevent the knotted or broken portion from reachingthe needles beforethe machine comes to rest. It is to overcome these and otherdifficulties that my improvement is designed, and I have herein shownand will now proceed to describe one form of mechanism in which I haveembodied the invention.

Reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a common form of circular-knittingmachines embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail View of myclutch-tripping mechanism. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of thedriving-shaft, showing the clutching mechanism; and Fig. 4 is a hori- 5ozontal section taken on the line of Fig. 3.

Similar iigures of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalviews.

Referring to Fig. 1, the yarn 1 2 runs from the spools or bobbins 3 upthrough eyes in 55 the ends of the cross-bar 4 at the upper end of avertical standard 5, thence downward through eyes inthe ends of pivotedarms 6 to the needles of the machine. The arms 6 are loosely pivotedupon a horizontal cross-bar 7, 6c supported by any suitable standards,such as 8, rising from the base-plate 9 or other part of themachineframe. The ends of the arms opposite the guide-eyes have metallicforks, as at 10, and said forks are arranged to straddle a horizontalmetallic bar 11, supported by an adjustable bracket 12, carried,preferably, by the standard 5. The pivotal point of the arms 6 is placednearer the eye end of the arm in order that the opposite ends may falland 7o cause the upper prong of the fork to strike the metallic bar 11,whenzthe yarn running through the eyes breaks and no longer offers anyresistance to the opposite end of the 1ever. Instead of thisarrangement, however, 7 5 the arms may be pivoted centrally of theirlength and be weighted at their forked ends.

Located at any convenient point in proximity to the machine is a batteryor other source of electric energy, as 13. One of the 8o poles of thisbattery is connected by the wire 14 to the metallic bar 11 through thebracket 12, as shown. The other pole is in metallic connection with thepivoted arms 6 through the cross-piece 7, one of the standards 8, andthe Wire 17. Interposed in the electric circuits 13, 14, l2, 11, 10, 6,7, 8, 16, and 17 is the electro-magnet 15, which is the immediatemechanism for releasing the clutching de- Vices. 9o

During the normal operation of the machine the circuit above describedis open or broken between the forks 10 and the bar 1l, the running ofthe yarn through the eyes in the other ends of the arms 6, keeping thearms balanced so that neither prong of the forks at the opposite endstouches the bar 11. As soon, however, as a knot strikes the eye theforked end of the arm will be'tipped up and the lower prong of the fork10 will coutact with the bar 11, thereby closing the circuit andenergizing the magnet; or should one of the yarns break the forked endof the lever, being the heavier, drops and the upper prong contacts withthe bar 11, with the same result-viz., the closing of the circuit.

I will now describe the mechanism for clutching and unclutching theoperatingshaft of the machine to the constantly-running belt-pulley 30.The shaft 26 carries at one end a gear-wheel 28, adapted to impartmotion to the knitting-machine in a manner well understood. A handle 27may be applied to the other end of the shaft for turning the machine byhand, when desired. Fixed upon the shaft is the wheel 29, having notches33 in its side face, said notches being preferably formed in an annularrim, as shown. Loosely journaled upon the shaft adjacent to the wheel 29is the constantly-driven beltpulley 30. This pulley not only turnsfreely upon the shaft, but slid es lengthwise thereon, so as to beengaged with and disengaged from the fixed notched wheel 29 by mechanismpresently to be described. The pulley 30 is provided on its faceadjacent to the fixed Wheel with one ora series of pins or teeth 32 toeugage the notches of the wheel 29. The shaft is journaled in uprisingarms of a small frame 25. Pivoted at one end to this frame below theshaft is a clutchinglever 34. This lever eX- tends up beyond the shaftand has a weighted end conveniently shaped to form a hand-hold, by whichthe lever is operated. At about midway of its length this lever is cutaway or recessed, as shown at 36, so as to straddle the shaft, and aboveand below this cut-away portion the lever is `provided with thecam-surfaces V37 on one side, the opposite side being plain and Hat andserving as a bearing-face for the end of the hub 33 of the belt-pulley30. The arm of the frame 25 nearest the lever is provided with anoppositely-shaped cam-surface 42. ln order to provide for the lateralmovement of the lever in the direction of the length of the shaft whenit is thrust up into engagement with the cam-surface 42, it is pivotedat its lower end on a loose pin 35, set in the frame and having a stiffspring 39 tending to hold the arm against the side of the frame, as willbe understood from Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. Encircling the shaftbetween the adjacent faces of the fast and loose wheels 29 30 andconveniently housed in a recess in the latter is a spring 31, tending toforce and hold the wheels apart. When the lever 34 is in the positionindicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, the wheels are held apart bythe spring 31 and the loose wheel runs freely on the shaft withoutoperating the machine. When the clutch lever is pushed up into theposition shown in full lines in Fig. 2, the cam-surfaces 37 and 42cooperate to thrust the lever laterally along the shaft, pushing on theend of the hub 38 and causing the pulley 30 to be clutched to the fixedwheel 29. To hold the parts in their clutched position,a spring 41 ofany convenient form is secured to the frame in the path of a pin 40,projecting from the side of the lever, a notch being cut in the spring,into which the pin takes when the lever reaches its locked position.

l will now describe the mechanism for tripping the catch and allowingthe lever to fall. 2O denotes a weight on the upper end of a short rod21, iiXed in a block 19, pivoted as shown, the parts being so arrangedthat the rod moves in the path of the spring 4l, the end of which ispreferably bent to insure the engagement therewith of the weight.

The numeral 15 denotes an electro-magnet mounted on any suitable frame,such as 18, to which also the block 19 is pivoted. The wires 16 and 17are connected to the opposite end coils of the magnet, as clearly shownin Fig. 2 of the drawings, so that the magnet is included in the circuitheretofore explained. A spring-armature 22 is xed so that when themagnet is energized it will be drawn down out of the path of thepivot-block of the weightarm 21 and allow the latter to fall. Thearmature is preferably provided with a stud 23 to engage thepivot-block; but it may be otherwise constructed to effect the sameresult. The frame 18 is supported in any suitable manner and located inany convenient position, it only being necessary that they shall be soarranged that the weight 2O will strike the spring 41 when theweight-arm is allowed to fall. l have herein shown the frame assupported by an arm or bracket 24 from the frame 25, carrying thedrivingand clutching devices.

From the foregoing description the operation of the machine will readilybe understood to be generally as follows: So long as the yarn is runningsmoothly through the eyes in the ends of the pivoted levers 6 theselevers will be balanced, as before explained, and neither of the prongsof the forked ends will make contact with the cross-bar 11. Consequentlyno current will pass, the circuitbeing broken at this point. As soon,however, as the yarn breaks or runs out or a knot or kink passes througheither of the eyes the forked end of one of the levers is lowered orraised, as the case may be, and one of the prongs strikes the cross-bar11, completing the electric circuit and allowing the current to pass.This energizes the magnet and draws down the armature 22, releasing thepivotblock 19 and allowing the weight-arm 21 to fall and the weight 2Oto strike the springcatch 41. This of course frees the weightedclutch-lever 34 and allows the same to drop of its own weight, when thespring 31, encircling the shaft between the wheels, instantly forcesthem apart, bringing the machine to rest. In order to set the mechanismagain, it is only IOS IIO

necessary to push the lever 34 up into place and to raise the weight-arm21 till the springarmature catches under the heel of the pivotblock,when the machine may be threaded-up again in the ordinary manner and theoperation of knitting be resumed.

I do not intend to be restricted to the details of the mechanism hereinshown and described, as the same may be considerably modified withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

l. The combination of a shaft, a fixed wheel thereon havinga notchedrim, a drivin g-wheel loose upon the shaft and having a tooth to engagethe notched rim of the fixed wheel, a spring encircling the shaft andholding the wheels normally apart, a cam projection on the bearing forthe shaft, and a cam-shaped lever Working between the bearing and thehub of the loose wheel, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a shaft, a fixed wheel thereon, a loose wheelthereon, a spring encircling the shaft between the wheels and holdingthem normally apart, a cam-shaped projection on the shaft-bearingnearest the loose-wheel, a pivoted lever having a cam-surfaceco-operating with the cam on the shaftbearing, and a spring encirclingthe pivot-pin of the lever and holding vthe latter up to the cam on thebearing,substantially as described.

3. In a stop-motion for knitting-machines and the like, the combinationof an operating-shaft, a drive-wheel normally loose thereon, awheelfixed on the shaft and adapted to be engaged with theloose wheel, acani-shaped lever for forcing and holding the`wheels together,aspring-catch for holding the lever up to its work, a weight arranged tostrike and release the spring-catch, a guide through which the yarnpasses, and an electric circuit, including the guide and the mechanismfor dropping the Weight, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a shaft, awheel fixed thereon and having notches,a driving-wheel normally loose on the shaft, a spring encircling theshaft between the wheels and holding them normally apart, a weightedcamshaped lever for forcing and holding the Wheels together, and aspring-catch for holding the lever up to its Work, substantially asdescribed.

5. The combination of a shaft, a wheel fixed thereon, a drivingwheelloose thereon, a spring encirclingthe shaft between thewheels andholding them normally apart, a cam on the shaft-bearing adjacent to theloose wheel, and a wedge-shaped cam Working between the bearing and theloose wheel for causing it to engage the fixed wheel, substantially asdescribed. j

6. The combination of a shaft, a Wheel fixed thereon, a drivingwheelloose thereon, a springencirclingthe shaft between the Wheels, a cam onthe shaft-bearing adjacent to the loose wheel, a pivoted lever having aWedgeshaped cam and adapted to work between the shaft-bearing cam andthe loose wheel, and a catch for holding the lever up to its work,substantially asvdescribed. f

7. The combination of a shaft, a Wheel fixed thereon, a drive-Wheelloose thereon, a spring encircling the shaft between the wheels, a camon the shaft-bearing adjacent to `the loose wheel, a pivoted leverhaving a wedge-shaped cam and adapted to Work between the shaftbearingcam and the loose wheel, anda catch for holding the lever up to itsWork, the lever being weighted to fall upon the release ofthe catch,substantially as described.

8. Ina stop-motion for knitting-machines and the like, the combinationof an operatingshaft,`a drive-wheel normally loose thereon, a fixedwheel on the shaft, a spring interposed between the wheels andholdingthem normally apart, a weighted cam-shaped lever for forcing the wheelstogether and holding them in engagement,a spring-catch for holdingthelever up to its work, a Weighted trip-,arm for the catch, a magnet Whosearmature is varranged to hold the trip-arm elevated, a guide throughwhich the yarn passes, and an electric circuit including the guide andthe magnet, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE J. MANDERFIELD.

Witnesses:

SAML. LEWIN, v A. R. SAYLOR.

